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Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Workers Exposed to Bioaerosol in Wastewater Treatment Plants Aimed at the Choice and Setup of Safety Measures

Author

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  • Annalaura Carducci

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Gabriele Donzelli

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Cioni

    (Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Ileana Federigi

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

  • Roberto Lombardi

    (Department of Technology Innovations, Research, and Certification Sector—INAIL, Research Centre—Via Fontana Candida 1, 00040 Monte Porzio Catone (Rm), Italy)

  • Marco Verani

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy)

Abstract

Biological risk assessment in occupational settings currently is based on either qualitative or semiquantitative analysis. In this study, a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) has been applied to estimate the human adenovirus (HAdV) health risk due to bioaerosol exposure in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). A stochastic QMRA model was developed considering HAdV as the index pathogen, using its concentrations in different areas and published dose–response relationship for inhalation. A sensitivity analysis was employed to examine the impact of input parameters on health risk. The QMRA estimated a higher average risk in sewage influent and biological oxidation tanks (15.64% and 12.73% for an exposure of 3 min). Sensitivity analysis indicated HAdV concentration as a predominant factor in the estimated risk. QMRA results were used to calculate the exposure limits considering four different risk levels (one illness case per 100, 1.000, 10.000, and 100.000 workers): for 3 min exposures, we obtained 565, 170, 54, and 6 GC/m 3 of HAdV. We also calculated the maximum time of exposure for each level for different areas. Our findings can be useful to better define the effectiveness of control measures, which would thus reduce the virus concentration or the exposure time.

Suggested Citation

  • Annalaura Carducci & Gabriele Donzelli & Lorenzo Cioni & Ileana Federigi & Roberto Lombardi & Marco Verani, 2018. "Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Workers Exposed to Bioaerosol in Wastewater Treatment Plants Aimed at the Choice and Setup of Safety Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1490-:d:158006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Annalaura Carducci & Gabriele Donzelli & Lorenzo Cioni & Marco Verani, 2016. "Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment in Occupational Settings Applied to the Airborne Human Adenovirus Infection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Clark, C.S. & Linnemann Jr., C.C. & Gartside, P.S. & Phair, J.P. & Blacklow, N. & Zeiss, C.R., 1985. "Serologic survey of rotavirus, Norwalk agent and Prototheca wickerhamii in wastewater workers," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 75(1), pages 83-85.
    3. Luigi Vimercati & Antonio Baldassarre & Maria Franca Gatti & Luigi De Maria & Antonio Caputi & Angelica A. Dirodi & Francesco Cuccaro & Raffaello Maria Bellino, 2016. "Respiratory Health in Waste Collection and Disposal Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-8, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mayerlin Sandoval Herazo & Graciela Nani & Florentina Zurita & Carlos Nakase & Sergio Zamora & Luis Carlos Sandoval Herazo & Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres, 2022. "A Review of the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater: Transmission Risks in Mexico," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Hamza Mbareche & Marc Veillette & Jonathan Pilote & Valérie Létourneau & Caroline Duchaine, 2019. "Bioaerosols Play a Major Role in the Nasopharyngeal Microbiota Content in Agricultural Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Jamil Ahmed & Li Ping Wong & Yan Piaw Chua & Najeebullah Channa & Rasool Bux Mahar & Aneela Yasmin & James A. VanDerslice & Joshua V. Garn, 2020. "Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Drinking Water Quality to Predict the Risk of Waterborne Diseases in Primary-School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Rasha Maal-Bared, 2022. "Protecting Wastewater Workers by Categorizing Risks of Pathogen Exposures by Splash and Fecal-Oral Transmission during Routine Tasks," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-10, November.

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